London was, for a long time, the joke European capital for food. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
London was, for a long time, the joke European capital for food. That stopped being true around 2010 and now the joke is on anyone still telling it. The city eats more curries per capita than any place outside South Asia, has neighbourhoods given over to Vietnamese, Sichuanese, Eritrean, and Turkish cooking, and has been quietly leading the new wave of British seasonal cooking out of its old gastropubs. The weather still rules out long lunches on terraces, but it suits a city built around small dark rooms with very good food. The Sunday roast is back. The full English deserves its second look. And the curry house remains the single most reliable cheap dinner anywhere in Europe.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Soho
London's eating-out heart. Chinatown for the late-night soup dumplings, Berwick Street for the modern small-plates set, Brewer Street for an old Italian sit-down. Reservations a few days ahead for anywhere with a name.
Borough Market
Working market under a railway viaduct. Best at 11am on a Friday for a brunch wander; avoid Saturday afternoon when it's tourist-crushed. The bakeries and oyster bars are the standouts.
Brick Lane & Spitalfields
Old curry-house corridor in the east end, now overlapping with the wave of Bengali sweet shops, bagel bakeries open at 4am, and modern Indian places run by chefs from the Mumbai diaspora.
Brixton & Peckham
South of the river, where the African and Caribbean food cultures live and where Sunday roasts in renovated pubs are reliably better than equivalents in Mayfair at half the price.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Sunday roast
· Beef or lamb, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, gravy, the works. Pubs do this best, between noon and 4pm. Book ahead. - 02
Full English breakfast
· Bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, tomato, mushroom, black pudding, toast. A diner standard at 'caffs' and pubs; less reliable at hotels. - 03
Curry house meal
· Not Indian, exactly. Anglo-Bangladeshi by lineage, with chicken tikka masala the British-invented hero. Brick Lane is the cliche; Tooting and Southall are the better destinations. - 04
Pie and mash
· East-end working-class dish: minced beef pie, mashed potato, liquor (a parsley sauce). Vanishing tradition; eat at one of the old shops while they last. - 05
Fish and chips
· Battered white fish (cod or haddock) with thick-cut chips, malt vinegar, and mushy peas. Best from chippies, not gastropubs. - 06
Salt beef bagel
· From the Brick Lane bakeries that never close. Hot salt beef, mustard, gherkin, on a bagel rolled and boiled in front of you.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Pubs serve food noon–3pm and 6–9pm; gastropubs run longer. Tipping is 12.5% on a sit-down bill, often added as 'service' (you can decline it). Sundays are big for pub lunch; book by Friday. Curry houses do BYO at the budget end; check before turning up with a bottle.
All 20 food tours
Updated 2026-07-02The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Floating Sauna of London
75-minute sauna sessions for the perfect balance of heat and relaxation Wood-fired sauna heated to 70–90°C for an authentic Nordic experience Refreshing cold plunge (around 6–10°C) to complete the hot-cold wellness ritua
1.3h - 02
Ultimate Soho & Chinatown Food Walking Tour in London
Explore the flavours of London on our Food Tour through Soho and Chinatown. You'll discover the captivating history of two of the city's most lively neighbourhoods, and get a taste of it for yourself! We've pre-planned t
3h - 03
London Food Walking Tour: Taste Your Way Through Soho & Chinatown
Experience London through your taste buds on our Food Tour, tasting your way through Soho and Chinatown. We've curated a guided experience with priority service at local eateries, blending delicious tastings with fascina
3h - 04
A Self-Guided Culinary Audio Tour of London
On the vibrant streets of St James and in Soho and Covent Garden’s eclectic enclaves, you’ll find some of London’s favorite foodie spots. On this walking tour with Alice Venessa Bever, a culinary connoisseur and Context
1.3h - 05
London Private Family Tour Museum Visit for Kids and Games
Discover London with your family on this private family-friendly adventure that combines history, fun, and delicious treats. Begin in the city’s vibrant heart, exploring Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, and Covent Garden thr
4h - 06
London Private Full-Day Tour: Tower of London Tickets & Pub Lunch
Discover all the magic of London in this unique Private Full Day Tour. Walk with your local host through the most emblematic places of the city, starting with the incredible St. Paul's Cathedral. Cross the beautiful Rive
6h - 07
London Food & Drinks Private Tour - British Taverns & Pubs
Embark on a Private Gastronomic Tour through London’s East End, savoring the finest British dishes paired with traditional regional drinks. Explore historic pubs and taverns with your expert guide. Wander through Shoredi
3h - 08
London Full-Day Private Tour with Westminster Abbey Tickets
Get ready to enjoy London on this complete private full-day tour. Discover with your local guide the highlights of central London. Explore Soho and Chinatown. Walk around Trafalgar Square while watching the lively local
6h - 09
Central London City Exploration Game with Secret Squares
A playful experience to discover the secrets of central London, a mystery walk similar to an escape room but outdoors! Starting at Piccadilly Circus and ending in the centre of SoHo. You'll receive clues on your phones
2h - 10
Square Mile City Exploration Game in London
A playful experience to discover the secrets of the city's square mile, The City of London, a mystery walk similar to an escape room but outdoors! Your team will receive clues on their phones that, once deciphered, will
2h - 11
London Private Food Tour with Traditional and International Dishes
Experience something more than traditional English fish-and-chips getting on our 3-hour London food tour. The gastronomic adventure blends classic and popular British dishes with international cuisine that has been thriv
3h - 12
Ultimate London Food Tour: 8 British Foods & 30 London Landmarks
This tour is packed with both sightseeing and great food. Get to know more about British cuisine and try top-10 dishes you’ve totally heard about: scotch egg, fish and chips, pie and mash, beer, and more. Not to mention
6h - 13
Private London Desserts Tour w/ 6 Pastries incl Battenberg Cake and Chelsea Buns
A full three-hour tour dedicated to London desserts awaits! Pastries lovers get ready to try all the perks of British cuisine. The sweetest things ever provided with tea and made according to your preferences and even fo
3h - 14
Pub & History Tour London (History & Beers)
This Tour around the old streets of London will not only give an insight in to Great British Beer but lots of great stories and facts along the way, from the Great fire of London to the Plague you will see the scares lef
1h - 15
Borough Market, London Bridge Food & Drink
If you are interested in not just the history of London, but more fun stories as well and hidden routes then this is the tour for you we also sample some Great British bites.
2.5h - 16
Jack the Ripper Tour Whitechapel plus a Curry in Brick Lane
After enjoying your meal at the Eastern Eye Restaurant and meeting your guide, you will walk it off with this fast paced tour around some of the murder sites of Jack the Ripper. All the thrills and spills about the actua
1.3h - 17
Whisky and Gin Private Tour in the Cotswolds with Driver Guide
Enjoy an 8-hour chauffeur-guided tour to the scenic Cotswolds and the renowned Cotswolds Distillery. Admire rolling hills, charming stone villages, and thatched cottages as you travel through this area of natural beauty.
8h - 18
Cellar Door Wine Tour from London
Our English Wine Cellar Door Tour gives you an insight into the English Wine industry and the opportunity to visit three award winning vineyards on the day, for a tasting at the Cellar Door. Your English Wine Expert Tour
8h - 19
English Wine and Cheese Tour from London
What could possibly go better together than English wine and English cheese? Quite simply nothing, they were made for each other! This wine tour will consist of a guided tasting at the award winning Chapel Down Vineya
8h - 20
Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Experience in London
Inspired by Hollywood Movies and TV that have brought to life America's infamous prison stories, Alcotraz is London's first immersive theatrical cocktail bar. From the orange jumpsuits upon entrance, to the real metallic
1.8h